Mathematics in the Modern World

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

CORE IDEA:
Like any language, mathematics has its own symbols, syntax and rules.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics.
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language.
3. Perform the operations on mathematical expressions correctly.
4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language.

METHODOLOGY:
Individual / Small Group Exercises, Class Discussion

RESOURCES:
Textbooks and illustrations

ASSESSMENT:
Problem Set, Online Quizzes, Completion of Module Activities, Assignment, Recitation

CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

Importance of language

Language facilitates communication and clarifies meaning. It allows people to express themselves and
maintains their identity. Likewise, language bridges the gap among people from varying origins and
culture without prejudice to their background and upbringing.

Characteristics of language of mathematics:

• Mathematical Language is Precise – Mathematics can able to make very fine distinctions or
definitions among a set of mathematical symbols.

• Mathematical Language is Concise – Mathematicians can express otherwise expositions or

sentences briefly using the language of mathematics.

• Mathematical Language is Powerful – One can express complex thoughts with relative ease.

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 EXPRESSION VS. SENTENCES
Mathematical Expressions and Sentences

• Every language has its own vocabulary (the words), and its rules for combining these words into
complete thoughts (the sentence).

• In English, nouns are used to name things we want to talk about (like people, place, and things);
whereas sentences are used to state complete thoughts. A typical English sentence has at least
one noun, and at least one verb.

Example: Bella loves Mathematics.

Here, ‘Bella’ and ‘mathematics’ are nouns; while ‘loves’ is a verb.

• The mathematical analogue of a ‘noun’ will be called an expression. Thus, an expression is a

name given to a mathematical object of interest. The mathematical analogue of a ‘sentence’ will
also be called a ‘sentence’. A mathematical sentence, just as an English sentence, must state a
complete thought.

Definition

• An expression is the mathematical analogue of an English noun; it is a correct arrangement of

mathematical symbols used to represent a mathematical object of interest. An expression does
NOT state a complete thought.

• A mathematical sentence is the analogue of an English sentence; it is a correct arrangement of

mathematical symbols that states a complete thought.

The following diagrams will help us understand the difference of those terms when it comes to the
context of English and Math.

• Person: Bella • True: The word “MATH” has four letters.

• Place: Imus • False: The word “MATH” has five letters.
• Things: Laptop • Sometimes True / Sometimes False:
Math is a difficult subject.

In the English language, nouns are names of persons, places, things and etc. Phrases are words or groups
of words that do not express a complete though and sentence is a word or group of words that expresses
a complete thought.

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 2

 • Number: 2 • True: 2 + 5 = 7
• Set: {2} • False: 2 + 5 = 8
• Ordered Pair: (𝑥, 𝑦) • Sometimes True / Sometimes False:
1 0
• Matrix: [ ] 𝑥=7
0 1

• Function:

In the Mathematics language, expressions are nouns. An expression is any number, variable or a
combination of the two separated by an operation. Sentences in the mathematics language are equations
which are either true or false but not both.

Example:

Classify each entry as mathematical expression (Expression), or a mathematical sentence (Sentence).

1. 2+4=6 Sentence
3
2. Expression
7
3. 𝑥+5 Expression
4. 𝑥+5= 9 Sentence
5. x + 1 = 2(x − 3) Sentence
6. 1+3+8 Expression

Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object

Numbers have lots of different names. This idea is extremely important in mathematics. English has the
same concepts: synonyms are words that have the same (or nearly the same) meaning. However, this
‘same object, different name’ idea plays a much more fundamental role in mathematics than in English.
For Example: the expressions
10, 6 + 4, 20 ÷ 2, (11 − 3) + 2, 2+2+2+2+2
all look different, but are all just different names for the same number.

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 3

 Example:

1. Give several synonyms for the English word “different”.

2. The number “eight” has lots of different names. Give names satisfying the following properties.
There may be more than one correct answer.
a. the “standard” name
b. a name using a plus sign (+)
c. a name using a minus sign (−)
d. a name using a division sign (÷)

Solution:

1. disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other,

unalike, unlike
2a. 8
2b. 1 + 7; 2 + 6; 3 + 5; 4 + 4; 5 + 3; 6 + 2; 7 + 1; …
2c. 10 − 2; 9 − 1; …
2d. 40 ÷ 5; 32 ÷ 4; 24 ÷ 3; 16 ÷ 2; …

Ideas Regarding Sentences

• Just as English sentences have verbs, so do mathematical sentences. In the mathematical

sentence, ‘3 + 4 = 7’, the verb is ‘=’. If you read the sentence as ‘three plus four is equal to
seven’ then it’s easy to ‘hear’ the verb. Indeed, the equal sign ‘=’, is one of the most popular
mathematical verbs.

• Sentences can be true or false. The notion of truth (i.e. the property of being true or false) is of
fundamental importance in the mathematical language.

Example:

If possible, classify the entries in the list below as:

• an English noun, or a mathematical expression
• an English sentence, or a mathematical sentence

Try to fill in the blanks. In each sentence (English or mathematical), encircle the verb.

1. bird English noun

2. 7 Mathematical expression
3. The word ‘bird’ begins with the letter ‘d’. English sentence
4. 2+3=7 Mathematical sentence
5. 8−3 Mathematical expression
6. 8−3=5 Mathematical sentence
7. 𝑥+1 Mathematical expression
8. The bird is white. English sentence

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Some Difficulties in Math Language

• The word “is” could mean equality, inequality, or membership in a set.

• Different uses of a number; to express quantity (cardinal), to indicate the order (ordinal), and as a
label (nominal).
• Mathematical objects may be represented in many ways, such as sets and functions.
• The words “and” & “or” means different from its English use.

Example:

Translate each of the following English phrases into a mathematical expression.

1. Three more than twice a certain number 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑

2. Five less than thrice a certain number 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟓
3. The sum of two numbers 𝒙+𝒚
4. A number less 8 𝒙−𝟖
5. The square of the product of 𝑎 and 𝑏 (𝒂𝒃)𝟐
6. The perimeter of the rectangle if one side is 6 more than the other side 𝟐(𝒙) + 𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟔)
7. A man’s age 10 years ago 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎
8. The area of a rectangle whose width is 6 more than the height (𝒙)(𝒙 + 𝟔)
9. A number multiply by 7 𝟕𝒙
𝟏
10. One third of a number 𝒙
𝟑

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 5

 CONVENTIONS IN MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

In the English language, it is conventional to use capital letters for proper names. This convention helps to
distinguish between a common name and a proper name.

Mathematical language also has its conventions which help learners to distinguish between different
types of mathematical expressions.

Example:
1. The use of commas
2. Simplification of expressions
3. The use of symbols as representation
4. Rounding off of numbers (unless otherwise stated)
5. The use of bars in repeating decimals
6. Graphical representation of data
7. Proper writing of equation when introducing new variable
8. Proof statements like: (If-Then, Thus, So, Therefore, It follows that, Hence)
9. Omitting repeating expressions (the use of “which equals” or “which is equal to”)
There are several conventions used in mathematics. This is written to shorten a sentence.
⊆ - subset
A ⊆ 𝐵 means every element of 𝐴 is also an element of 𝐵
⊇ - superset
A ⊇ 𝐵 means every element of 𝐵 is also an element of 𝐴
∀ - (upside down A) means “for all”
∀𝑥, 𝑃 (𝑥) means 𝑃 (𝑥) is true for all 𝑥.
∃ - (backward E) means “there exists”
∃𝑥 ∶ 𝑃 (𝑥) means there is at least one x such that 𝑃 (𝑥) is true
∈ - (epsilon) means “an element of” or “in” or “belongs to”
𝑎 ∈ 𝑆 means a is an element of the set 𝑆
∋ - (backward epsilon) means “such that”
∴ - (three dots triangle), point up means “therefore” or “thus”
∵ - (three dots triangle), point down means “because” or “due to”
∅ - means the set with no elements or a null set

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 6

 FOUR BASIC CONCEPTS
1. SETS

• It is a well-defined collection of objects or things

• The objects are called the elements / members of the set.
• Well-defined - possible to determine whether or not an object belongs to a given set
• Capital letters of the English alphabet are used to represent sets.

Notation:
𝒂∈𝑺 - “𝑎 is an element of a set 𝑆”
𝒂∉ 𝑺 - “𝑎 is not an element of a set 𝑆”

Remarks
• A set which contains no element is called the empty or null set.
• We denote the empty set by { } or ∅.
• The set {∅} is not empty since it contains one element, the empty set.

Two ways to represent sets

1. Roster method (Tabular method) – when the elements of the set are enumerated and separated
by a comma and enclosed in a pair of braces.
Example: 𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑒, 𝑖, 𝑜, 𝑢}

2. Rule method (Set builder notation) – is a method of describing a set by enclosing within braces a
descriptive phrase and agreeing that those elements and only those which have the described
property are objects or elements of the set.
Example: 𝐴 = {𝑥|𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑎𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑡}

Kinds of Sets
1. Equal Sets - Sets A and B are equal, written 𝑨 = 𝑩, if they have the same elements.
Example: Given: If 𝐴 = {1, 4, 7, 9} and 𝐵 = {9, 1, 7, 4}, then 𝑨 = 𝑩 since Sets A and B
contains the same elements.

2. Equivalent Sets - Sets A and B are equivalent, written 𝑨 ∼ 𝑩, if they have the same number of
elements.
Example: Given: If 𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑒, 𝑖, 𝑜, 𝑢} and 𝐵 = {2, 4, 6, 8, 9}, then 𝑨 ∼ 𝑩 since Sets A and
B contains the same number of elements.

3. Finite Set – a set whose elements are limited or countable, and the last element can be identified.
Example: 𝐴 = {𝑥|𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 10}

4. Infinite Set – a set whose elements are unlimited or uncountable, and the last element cannot be
identified.
Example: 𝐵 = {𝑥|𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠}

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 7

 5. Universal Set – denoted by the symbol U, is a set of all elements under consideration.
Example: U = {𝑥|𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑙𝑎 𝑍𝑜𝑜}

6. Joint Set – Sets that have common elements.

Example: Given: If 𝐴 = {1, 2, 5, 9} and 𝐵 = {3, 4, 5, 8}, then Sets A and B are joint sets,
since 5 is common to both Sets A and B.

7. Disjoint Set – Sets that have no common elements.

Example: Given: If 𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑} and 𝐵 = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, then Sets A and B are disjoint
sets since no element is common.

8. Subset – If A and B are sets, A is called subset of B, if

and only if, every element of A is also an element of B.

Example: Suppose
If A = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒} and
B = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒},

then 𝐴 ⊆ 𝐵, since all elements of A is in B.

U

9. Power set – Given a set 𝑆 from universe U, the power set of S denoted by 𝑃(𝑆), is the collection
(or sets) of all subsets of 𝑆.
Example: Determine the power set of the following:

a. 𝑨 = {𝒆, 𝒇}
𝑃(𝐴) = {{𝑒}, {𝑓}, {𝑒, 𝑓}, ∅}

b. 𝑩 = {𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑}
𝑃(𝐵) = {{1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2, 3}, ∅}

Other Terminologies:

Unit set (Singleton) – a set with only one element.

Example: 𝐶 = {𝑥|𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 1 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 3}

Empty Set (Null Set) – denoted by ∅ or { }, is a unique set with no element.

Example: 𝐷 = {𝑥|𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 2 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 1}

Cardinal Number – of a set is the number of elements or members in the set. The cardinality of set 𝐴 is
denoted by 𝑛(𝐴).
Example: E = {𝑎, 𝑒, 𝑖, 𝑜, 𝑢}, the cardinal number of E is 5 or 𝑛(𝐸) = 5.

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 8

Operations on Sets
1. Union of Sets A and B – denoted by 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵, is the set of all elements found in 𝐴 or 𝐵 or both.

Example:

Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5}
𝐵 = {2, 5, 7, 8}

Then
𝑨 ∪ 𝑩 = {𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟒, 𝟓, 𝟕, 𝟖}

2. Intersection of Sets A and B – denoted by 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵, is the set of elements found in 𝐴 and 𝐵.

Example:

Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5}
𝐵 = {2, 5, 7, 8}

Then
𝑨 ∩ 𝑩 = { 𝟐, 𝟓}

3. Complement of A – denoted by 𝐴′, is the set of all elements found in the Universal set but not
found in 𝐴.

Example:

Let 𝑼 = {𝟎, 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, 𝟒, 𝟓, 𝟔, 𝟕, 𝟖, 𝟗}

If 𝐴 = {1,4,5,6}, then 𝐴′ = {2,3,7,8,9,0}.

If 𝐵 = {1,2,3}, then 𝐵′ = {0,4,5,6,7,8,9}.

If 𝐶 = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}, then 𝐶′ = ∅

4. Difference of Sets A and B

𝐴 − 𝐵, is the set of elements found in 𝐴 but not in 𝐵.

Example:

Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5}
𝐵 = {2, 5, 7, 8}

Then
𝑨 − 𝑩 = {𝟏, 𝟒}

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 9

 𝐵 − 𝐴, is the set of elements found in 𝐵 but not in 𝐴.

Example:

Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5}
𝐵 = {2, 5, 7, 8}

Then
𝑩 − 𝑨 = {𝟕, 𝟖}

5. Symmetric Difference of Sets A and B – denoted by 𝐴 ⊕ 𝐵, is the set consisting of all elements
that belong to 𝐴 or to 𝐵 but not to both 𝐴 and 𝐵.

Example:

Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 4, 5}
𝐵 = {2, 5, 7, 8}

Then
𝑨⨁𝑩 = {𝟏, 𝟒, 𝟕, 𝟖}
A⨁B

2. RELATION

• A relation is a rule that relates values from a set of values (called the domain) to a second set
of values (called the range).
• The elements of the domain can be imagined as input to a machine that applies a rule to
these inputs to generate one or more outputs.
• A relation is also a set of ordered pairs (x, y).

Let A and B be sets. A relation 𝑹 from A to B is a subset of 𝐴 × 𝐵. Given an ordered pair (𝑎, 𝑏) in 𝐴 × 𝐵,
𝒂 is related to 𝒃 by 𝑹, written 𝑎 𝑅 𝑏 , if and only if, (𝑎, 𝑏) is in 𝑅. The set 𝐴 is called the domain of 𝑅 and
the set 𝐵 is called its range of 𝑅.
The notation for a relation 𝑅 may be written symbolically as follows:
𝑎 𝑅 𝑏 means that (𝑎, 𝑏) ∈ 𝑅 “𝑎 is related to 𝑏”
The notation 𝑎 𝑅 𝑏 means that 𝑎 is not related to 𝑏 by 𝑅:
𝑎 𝑅 𝑏 means that (𝑎, 𝑏) ∉ 𝑅 “𝑎 is not related to 𝑏”

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 10

Example 1: Express the relation {(2, 3), (4, 7), (6, 8)} as a table, as a graph, and as a mapping diagram.

Example 2: Let 𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑} be the set of car brands

𝐵 = {𝑠, 𝑡, 𝑢, 𝑣} be the set of countries of the car manufacturer

Then 𝐴 × 𝐵 gives all possible pairings of the elements of 𝐴 and 𝐵, let the relation 𝑅 from 𝐴 to 𝐵
be given by

𝑅 = {(𝑎, 𝑠), (𝑎, 𝑡), (𝑎, 𝑢), (𝑎, 𝑣), (𝑏, 𝑠), (𝑏, 𝑡), (𝑏, 𝑢), (𝑏, 𝑣), (𝑐, 𝑠), (𝑐, 𝑡), (𝑐, 𝑢), (𝑐, 𝑣),
(𝑑, 𝑠), (𝑑, 𝑡), (𝑑, 𝑢), (𝑑, 𝑣)}.

3. FUNCTIONS

• A function is a relation where each element in the domain is related to only one value in the
range by some rule.
• The elements of the domain can be imagined as input to a machine that applies a rule so that
input corresponds to only one output.
• A function is a set of ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦) such that no two ordered pairs have the same
𝑥−value but different 𝑦 −values.
• A function can be represented by the equation 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥) where 𝑦 is the dependent variable
and 𝑥 is the independent variable.

classes of function
A. Injective Function (one to one function)
Injective means that every member of “𝐴” has its own unique matching member in “𝐵”. A function 𝑓
is injective if and only if whenever 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑦), 𝑥 = 𝑦. It’s also called “one to one”.
Example: Let f be the function from {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑} to {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} with 𝑓(𝑎) = 2, 𝑓(𝑏) = 1,
𝑓(𝑐) = 3, 𝑓(𝑑) = 4 is one to one.

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 11

 B. Surjective Function (an onto function)
Surjective means that every “𝐵” has at least one matching “𝐴” (maybe more than one). A function 𝑓
(from set A to B) is surjective if and only if for every 𝑦 in 𝐵, there at least one 𝑥 in 𝐴 such that
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦, in other words 𝑓 is surjective if and only if 𝑓(𝐴) = 𝐵.
Example:
Let f be the function from {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒} to {1, 2, 3, 4} defined by 𝑓(𝑎) = 2, 𝑓(𝑏) = 1,
𝑓(𝑐) = 3, 𝑓(𝑑) = 3, 𝑓(𝑒) = 4.

C. Bijective Function (one to one and onto function)

Bijective means both Injective and Surjective together. Perfect “one-to-one correspondence”
between the members of the sets is existed. A function 𝑓 (from set 𝐴 to 𝐵) is bijective if, for every 𝑦
in 𝐵, there is exactly one 𝑥 in 𝐴 such that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦.
Example:
Let f be the function from {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒} to {1,2,3,4,5} with 𝑓(𝑎) = 2, 𝑓(𝑏) = 1, 𝑓(𝑐) = 5,
𝑓(𝑑) = 3, 𝑓(𝑒) = 4.

Example:
Give the domain and range of the relation. Tell whether the relation is a function. Explain.
1. {(3, –2), (5, –1), (4, 0), (3, 1)}
2. {(-1, 5), (0, 2), (1, 3), (5, 7)}
3. {(3, 9), (4, -6), (0, 9), (-1, -5)}
4. {(1, 3), (2, 4), (3, 5), (4, 6)}
5. {(-2, 7), (-1, 3), (0, 1), (1, 5), (2, 5)}
6. {(3, 0), (3, 2), (7, 4), (9, 1)}

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 12

Solution:
1. D: {3, 4, 5} R: {-2, -1, 0, 1} No. The 3 connects to both the -2 and 1.
2. D: {-1, 0, 1, 5} R: {2, 3, 5, 7} Yes, since each domain value does not repeat.
3. D: {-1, 0, 3, 4} R: {-5, -6, 9} Yes, since each domain value does not repeat.
4. D: {1, 2, 3, 4} R: {3, 4, 5, 6} Yes, since each domain value does not repeat.
5. D: {-2,-1, 0, 1, 2} R: {1, 3, 5, 7} Yes, since each domain value does not repeat.
6. D: {3, 7, 9} R: {0, 1, 2, 4} No. The 3 connects to both the 0 and 2.

4. BINARY OPERATIONS
Let 𝐺 be a set. A binary operation on a set 𝐺 is a function that assigns each ordered pair (𝑎, 𝑏) of
elements of 𝐺. Symbolically, 𝑎 ∗ 𝑏 ∈ 𝐺 for all 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ 𝐺.
A group is a set of elements, with one operation, that satisfies the following properties:
(i) the set is closed with respect to the operation,
(ii) the operation satisfies the associative property,
(iii) there is an identity element, and
(iv) each element has an inverse.

In other word, a group is an ordered pair (𝐺, ∗) where 𝐺 is a set and ∗ is a binary operation on 𝐺
satisfying the four properties.

1. Closure property
If any two elements are combined using the operation, the result must be an element of the set.
𝒂 ∗ 𝒃 = 𝒄 ∈ 𝑮, for all 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 ∈ 𝑮.

2. Associative property
An operation on a set 𝐺 is associative if (and only if)
(𝒂 ∗ 𝒃) ∗ 𝒄 = 𝒂 ∗ (𝒃 ∗ 𝒄 ), for all 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 ∈ 𝑮.

3. Identity property
There exists an element 𝑒 in 𝐺, such that
𝒂 ∗ 𝒆 = 𝒆 ∗ 𝒂, for all 𝒂 ∈ 𝑮.

Remark:
• An identity element is unique. That is, it is the same for all element of a set.

4. Inverse property
For each 𝑎 ∈ 𝐺 there is an element 𝑎−1 of 𝐺, such that
𝒂 ∗ 𝒂−𝟏 = 𝒂−𝟏 ∗ 𝒂 = 𝒆.

Remarks:
• An inverse element is not unique in a set but it is unique for each element.
• The inverse of a is denoted by 𝑎−1 .

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 13

Example:

Determine whether the set of all non-negative integers under addition is a group.

Solution:

We will apply the four properties to test the set of all non-negative integers under addition is a group.

Step1: To test for closure property, we choose any two positive integers,
8 + 4 = 12 and 5 + 10 = 15

The sum is always a number of the set. Thus, it is closed.

Step2: To test for associative property, we choose any three positive integers,
3 + (2 + 4) = 3 + 6 = 9 and (3 + 2) + 4 = 5 + 4 = 9

Thus, it also satisfies the associative property.

Step3: To test for identity property, we choose any positive integer,

8 + 0 = 8; 10 + 0 = 10; 15 + 0 = 15

Thus, it also satisfies the identity property.

Step4: To test for inverse property, we choose any positive integer,

3 + (−3) = 0; 10 + (−10) = 0; 25 + (−25) = 0

Thus, it also satisfies the associative property.

Thus, the set of all non-negative integers under addition is a group, since it satisfies the four properties.

References:
A. Aufmann, Richard et. al. (2013). Mathematical Excursions 3rd Edition (International Edition).
BROOKS/COLE CENGAGE Learning.
B. Aufmann, Richard et. al. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World (Philippine Edition). Rex Book
Store, Inc.
C. Calubaquib, Medallon. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. Intramuros Manila,
Philippines: Mindshapers Co., Inc.
D. Mathematics in the Modern World by PMSJR
E. Sirug, Winston S. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. Intramuros Manila, Philippines:
Mindshapers Co., Inc.
F. Sobecki, Dave (2019). Math in Our World 4th Edition (Philippine Edition). Mc Graw Hill Education
G. Ymas Jr., Sergio E. et. al. (2018). Mathematics for the Modern World 2018. Ymas Publishing
House.

MODULE 2. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS 14